The University of Victoria's Undergraduate Literary Journal

We are currently accepting submissions for our 2016 Issue.

We are looking for unpublished, undergraduate work that displays the best that the University of Victoria has to offer. Anyone currently an undergraduate student at UVic is eligible to submit.

For all submissions include your name, title of submission, genre, word count and contact info (a preferred email address or phone number) in the body of your email. Please do not include your name or contact information anywhere on the attached submission. If you link to a website or other account, please make sure there is no identifying information present.

Comics: Send us a photo or scan of your pencils. If the text isn’t clear in the image, please include an additional text file for the script.

Email submissions to: tsowsubmissions@gmail.com

Issue 14 is on its way, and we’re so excited to share it with all of you! We’ll be launching this year’s issue at Copper Owl on April 8th. Authors from all four genres will be reading, and we’ll also be interviewing some of the visual artists we’re publishing this year. Afterwards, Cathedral Bloom and Christmas Jeans will give us some sweet, sweet music to dance to. What a time! Come have a drink, support local literature, and have a great time with us.

We’ll be selling tickets on campus beginning next week. If you can’t catch up with us, shoot us an email at thissideofwest@gmail.com to reserve a ticket.
$10 in advance, $12 at the door.Or $20 for a ticket + a shiny brand new Issue 14. What a deal!

Our annual Editors’ Reading had an amazing turnout this year! We heard readings from our lovely editors, and music from Dry Williams. A good time was had by all. Thanks to Deluge Contemporary Art for hosting us.

Thanks to everyone for coming out. Look forward to more events in the coming year!

This year we are trying out a more in-depth editorial process. Submissions will be reviewed by our editors who will offer detailed feedback. The submission will then go through revision before being published.

It’s a new year for This Side of West and we’re looking to put together an excellent team of editors and executives for issue #14 of the journal. We require that all positions be filled by responsible, capable, and eager individuals in order to secure the journal’s success. This year will be full of exciting new events, team reorganization, and talented submissions to read through from our new creative writing aficionados, so be ready to tell us why you feel you’d be the best fit for the job.

We do not require resumes, but do ask that you let us know of any relevant experience along with a cover letter that addresses your strengths and talents. In particular, we are eager to find those versed in event planning, the adobe creative suite, and eye-catching poster making. Take a look at the positions we have available this year:
Events Coordinator

The events coordinator is responsible for all aspects of event production. They will assist the board with the planning and coordination of all events including but not limited to the journal launch, editors readings, and fundraisers.

Duties include:

Negotiating event space contracts and bookings

Ordering supplies and equipment as needed

Making travel arrangements as needed

Ordering signs/posters for events

Director of Submissions and Social Media

The Director of Submissions and Social Media will be responsible for dealing with incoming submissions by removing any identifying materials from submissions [names/emails] and forwarding them to the applicable genre editors. For the social media aspect, this position requires someone who has a strong familiarity with all social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook and Twitter.

Creating event pages on Facebook and actively promoting them across accounts

Obsessively checking emails to make sure submissions are being received and promptly responded to with a rejection or acceptance email.

Genre Editors

Fiction, Poetry, CNF, Drama, Visual Arts

Genre editors are responsible for receiving submissions and narrowing the selection down to talented pieces worthy of being published. They must have a keen eye for quality and be ready to send back edits and feedback when applicable. The availability to regularly check and read submissions as well as to attend editor meetings is important.

Additional Volunteers

We are always grateful to accept a helping hand during event times and right before journal publication. These positions include:

Enjoy an literary evening with your editors for This Side of West, featuring a musical performance from Louis Grove.

Curious to hear writing samples from this year’s team of editors? What about meet the people who will be working to publish the best in UVic student writing? Or just relax with a bunch of word-obsessed folk? Then join us at Open Space on Thursday, Nov. 27 for readings, music and refreshments.

It’s that time of year again…we are putting together this year’s Board of Editors!

Hopefully you’ve gotten back into the swing of going to class and are eager to get involved in our crazy community of writers because this year is going to be exciting. Besides the usual Editor’s Reading, submission and editing process, and end of the year Book Launch, we’re going to be planning some fun events for Writing students.

This is an excellent opportunity to apply the editing skills you’ve learned in class and get an idea of what it means to polish a story, poem or script to the point that it’s finished. You’ll learn what to look for in submissions and get an idea of how literary journals work. Plus the usual standby: this will look great on your resume.

Editing positions are currently open for all four genres: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama and Poetry.

If you’re interested in joining this year’s team, please email tsow@uvic.ca with a short writing sample from the genre you’re interesting in editing and a few paragraphs about yourself. Include any experience in editing or writing outside of workshop, but no experience is necessary, just enthusiasm!

Thank you to all those who submitted to this year’s edition of This Side of West. We’re so voracious for stories here at TSOW that we are extending the deadline.

Yes, it’s true. The new deadline is this Friday, February 7th, at 11:59 p.m. Submission guidelines remain the same. We’re looking to help display the best this prestigious and, apparently, highly motivated University has to offer. Why not throw your hat (or hats, if you’re feeling prolific) in the ring?

We are still accepting all genres, however we are particularly keen to see some more CNF represented. Thanks for your time, be hearing from you all real soon.